Henry has turned UWA defense around

West Alabama defensive coordinator Robert Henry has taken a defense that was the worst in the Gulf South Conference and turned it into one of the best in the GSC.

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By Tommy DeasExecutive Sports Editor

Published: Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 12:38 a.m.

LIVINGSTON | Robert Henry arrived at the University of West Alabama five years ago to take over a defense that was the worst in the Gulf South Conference. Last season, the Tigers were not only the best defensive team in the conference, they led the nation in pass defense and were third in the country in total defense.

Such results were not unexpected from a man who had coached at Tennessee, Ole Miss, Baylor, Southern Miss, Southern Methodist, UAB and Wyoming over the course of his previous 31 years as a football coach, not to mention stops at the high school, junior college and NCAA Division II levels. Henry played a key role in UWA’s drive to the conference championship.

There’s not much about defensive football that Henry hasn’t seen. There’s not much besides football that he cares about.

“A great football coach, a pure football guy who doesn’t have any other hobbies,” is how UWA head coach Will Hall describes his defensive coordinator.

Henry, 58, concurs with the point about his lack of outside interests.

“This is basically it,” he said. “This is how I make a living. I’m glad to be still coaching college football.”

A sign taped to his office door gives insight into his philosphy: “Meet me at the ball,” it says.

“We try to be very flexible and we try to be aggressive,” Henry said. “Like everybody, we try to scratch where it itches.

“We constantly talk about toughness in our program, and being mentally aggressive. The most important thing is, we’ve got to be the best at pursuit in the country. We constantly say if we chase the football and tackle well, we have a chance.”

UWA plays a 4-3 scheme but also works out of a three-man front. If Henry has learned anything in three decades of coaching, it is that results, not schemes, are what matters.

“I decided a long time ago that I’d rather win than anything,” he said. “A big part of being a good defense is having a good offense. I’ve been some places where the defense got hung out to dry.

“Whatever you can do to win, that’s what we want.”

Henry doesn’t get around as well these days. He had hip surgery in December and had it done again in April, by his count bringing his total number of surgeries to five or six. He is getting around now without the help of crutches.

Cornerback Malcolm Butler has seen Henry fight through that hip pain to run across the field to dress down a player who made a mistake in practice. Butler knows Henry’s nickname is “Bear” — a testament to his gruff personality — but the senior thinks the coach should change it.

“Out of all my years of playing football — college, high school, junior college, pee wee — I’ve never seen a coach so dedicated. If they take an X-ray, I believe they would find a football where his heart should be.”

Hall knows Henry has a heart, even if he doesn’t always show it to the players.

<p>LIVINGSTON | Robert Henry arrived at the University of West Alabama five years ago to take over a defense that was the worst in the Gulf South Conference. Last season, the Tigers were not only the best defensive team in the conference, they led the nation in pass defense and were third in the country in total defense.</p><p>Such results were not unexpected from a man who had coached at Tennessee, Ole Miss, Baylor, Southern Miss, Southern Methodist, UAB and Wyoming over the course of his previous 31 years as a football coach, not to mention stops at the high school, junior college and NCAA Division II levels. Henry played a key role in UWA's drive to the conference championship.</p><p>There's not much about defensive football that Henry hasn't seen. There's not much besides football that he cares about.</p><p>“A great football coach, a pure football guy who doesn't have any other hobbies,” is how UWA head coach Will Hall describes his defensive coordinator.</p><p>Henry, 58, concurs with the point about his lack of outside interests.</p><p>“This is basically it,” he said. “This is how I make a living. I'm glad to be still coaching college football.”</p><p>A sign taped to his office door gives insight into his philosphy: “Meet me at the ball,” it says.</p><p>“We try to be very flexible and we try to be aggressive,” Henry said. “Like everybody, we try to scratch where it itches.</p><p>“We constantly talk about toughness in our program, and being mentally aggressive. The most important thing is, we've got to be the best at pursuit in the country. We constantly say if we chase the football and tackle well, we have a chance.”</p><p>UWA plays a 4-3 scheme but also works out of a three-man front. If Henry has learned anything in three decades of coaching, it is that results, not schemes, are what matters.</p><p>“I decided a long time ago that I'd rather win than anything,” he said. “A big part of being a good defense is having a good offense. I've been some places where the defense got hung out to dry.</p><p>“Whatever you can do to win, that's what we want.”</p><p>Henry doesn't get around as well these days. He had hip surgery in December and had it done again in April, by his count bringing his total number of surgeries to five or six. He is getting around now without the help of crutches.</p><p>Cornerback Malcolm Butler has seen Henry fight through that hip pain to run across the field to dress down a player who made a mistake in practice. Butler knows Henry's nickname is “Bear” — a testament to his gruff personality — but the senior thinks the coach should change it.</p><p>“His nickname should be 'Beef Jerky,' ” Butler said. “That's a tough guy.</p><p>“Out of all my years of playing football — college, high school, junior college, pee wee — I've never seen a coach so dedicated. If they take an X-ray, I believe they would find a football where his heart should be.”</p><p>Hall knows Henry has a heart, even if he doesn't always show it to the players.</p><p>“They know he cares about them,” Hall said. “They know he loves them, but it's a tough love.”</p><p>Henry has coached at bigger schools, but he likes where he is.</p><p>“I've had good jobs and I've had bad jobs,” he said. “Everything in coaching is whether you have a chance to win or not. We've got a good group of guys. They work hard.”</p><p>Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.</p>